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One has brushed up against the top of the mountain, only to fall short of the summit.
The other was denied, with some debate, of Olympic gold and now pursues it as a professional.
Someone will take a big step backwards this weekend.
Joseph Parker won and defended a major heavyweight title but was badly outpointed in a unification clash with Anthony Joshua and hasn’t really been in the title picture since. That could change with a win here in a clash of the WBO’s top two contenders.
On the other side of the ring is an undefeated, but already aged, 2016 Olympic silver medalist looking for his next progression. Joyce has beaten some solid veteran names (Bryant Jennings, Carlos Takam) and another undefeated hopeful with upside (Daniel Dubois). Now we find out if Joyce has the stuff to beat a serious contender and put himself in line for a title shot.
Let’s get into it.
Stats and Stakes
Joseph Parker
Age: 30
Titles: None
Previous Titles: WBO Heavyweight (2016-18, 2 Defenses)
Height: 6’4
Weight: 255 ¼ lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: South Auckland, New Zealand
Record: 30-2, 21 KO
Press Rankings: #3 (Ring), #4 (TBRB), #6 (BoxRec), #7 (ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 3-1
Last Five Opponents: 128-30-4 (.802)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB and/or Ring Rated Foes: Carlos Takam UD12; Andy Ruiz MD12; Anthony Joshua L12; Dillian Whyte L12
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: None
Vs.
Joe Joyce
Age: 37
Titles/Previous Titles: None
Height: 6’6
Weight: 271 ¼ lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Putney, London, United Kingdom
Record: 14-0, 13 KO
Press Rankings: #5 (TBRB), #6 (Ring), #8 (ESPN), #10 (BoxRec)
Record in Major Title Fights: No title fights
Last Five Opponents: 125-20-1 (.860)
Notable Outcomes, TBRB/Ring Rated Foes: None
Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: None
The Pick: Joyce has the edge in mass, length, and height but should be at a substantial deficit in speed. How substantial remains to be seen. Parker can display some of the quickest hands in the division but he doesn’t always let them go. In this fight, he’s a career high on the scale and that could also mitigate what should be his best edge. Is Parker looking to combat the size of Joyce or is his adding almost fifteen pounds to his frame in his last two fights a sign of a fighter who is less committed at this point? Here’s what we know: Joyce has shown off Mercer-esque whiskers so far and applies a steady drumbeat of pressure with very heavy hands. The thinking is Parker wins some early rounds but he’s not going to keep his foot on the gas and the extra size will work against him in the second half. It could be closely scored but Joyce should be better in the second half and it will be enough to get the nod.
Rold Picks 2022: 39-9
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]